40 years of Shorinji Kempo in NZ

This year Shorinji Kempo New Zealand will be celebrating its
40 year anniversary.

Although martial
arts movies and magazines have caused the popularity of
many arts to skyrocket, Shorinji Kempo remains a mystery to
most people. Even martial arts enthusiasts are frequently
ignorant of Shorinji Kempo’s techniques and philosophy and
they are almost always amazed to learn that the style has
accumulated some 1.5 million students in more than
3,000 clubs in over 30 countries. A single group,
headquartered in the town of Tadotsu on the island of
Shikoku, Japan, regulates all that training and
testing.

What most New Zealanders would be surprised to
hear is that New Zealand was one of the first foreign
countries to join the World Shorinji Kempo Organisation
(WSKO), being established 40 years ago in 1974.

Shorinji
Kempo is a modern self-defence, based on unarmed combat
methods. It differs fundamentally from most other Japanese
martial arts, in that its movements are circular rather than
linear. It is characterised by defensive movements before
counter attacking with multiple strikes. The emphasis is on
technique and reading the opponents body movements, rather
than strength.

The first Shorinji Kempo Club in New
Zealand opened in 1973 when Okada Sensei came out from
Japan. Together with Rick Littlewood, originally a judo
practitioner, they started a Shorinji Kempo class.

In
1974, the instructor become Hamada Takashi and he registered
the New Zealand Shorinji Kempo Federation. He inspired a
group of members to go train in Japan, with one of those
members being Peter Monk.

In August of 1977, Hamada
Takashi was succeeded by Uenishi Takashi who taught for 3
years till July 1981. There was then a period of about 2
years when the club had no official teacher, but two senior
members Tom Sherlock and Bruce Robinson taught throughout
this period.

In 1983 Peter Monk returned from headquarters
in Japan and became the official branch master in Auckland
and the first New Zealander to run a branch. In 1984, the
club name was changed to officially become Auckland Central
branch.

There are now 5 official branches throughout New
Zealand, with three of these located in Auckland. Peter
Monk, now a 6th Dan Black Belt, still trains and runs the
New Plymouth Branch.

Shorinji Kempo New Zealand is a not
for profit incorporated society. All instructors teach for
no fee and each club gives back to the community. The
philosophy of Shorinji Kempo is to give half for yourself
and half for others, creating well balanced human beings.
Members range from seven to sixty, from students to mothers,
technicians, managers, and accountants. Whether young or
old, male or female, slight or large, Shorinji Kempo can be
learnt by all as the martial art relies on body movement and
technique, rather than strength.

During the history of
Shorinji Kempo in New Zealand, the clubs have performed
demonstrations at malls, schools and Japan Day events,
hosted instructors from Japan, coordinated group trips to
Japan and to Australia, had training camps throughout New
Zealand, held fun social events, held joint training events,
ran combined black belt trainings for all clubs, and seen
over one thousand students grow and develop themselves.

To
celebrate Shorinji Kempo New Zealand’s 40th anniversary
they will be holding several events throughout the year
including a past and present member’s reunion, lantern
festival demonstrations and Japan day demonstrations.

Shorinji Kempo is seeking all past members from over the
last forty years and is encouraging them to make contact and
to join in the celebrations. If you have trained in the
past, or are interested in training, please contact a branch
near you or visit www.shorinjikempo.co.nz
for further information.

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